Alcohol-burner.



PATENTBD FEB. 1'7, 1903.

J. P. STEPIPE. ALCOHOL BURNER.

ArPLIoATIoN EILBD un. 14, 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 HODEL.

Inventor Witnesses:

s .y a A rn: Nsnms PETERS cc. Pnoauwov. wAsHwGYoN. uv c.

No. 720,634. PATENT-ED PEB. 17, 190s.

J. 1 .A STEPPE. ALCOHOL BURNER. v

l APPLICATION FILED KAB.. 14, 1900.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

Witziesses." l In'Ventoizj Milf- Attys.

m: mms Pnsas an.. wommno.. wnsnmsmn. u. c.

"Unirse STA-Tm 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. STEPPE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SIGMUND STERNAU ANDLIONEL STRASSBURGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CO- PARTNERS TRADING AS S.STERNAU d: OO.

ALCOHOL-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Lettersvlatent N o. '720.634, datedFebruary 17, 1903.

.Application filed March 14., 1900. Serial No. 8,589. (No model.)

T0 al?. whom. t muy concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN l. STEPPE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Alcohol-Burners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to various new and useful improvements in alcoholburners adapted especially for use in connection with chaing-dishes, butcapable of any other use wherein the production of a very hot flame withabsolute safety isessential.

My objects are to secure -an im proved construction of alcohol-burnersby which a perfect regulation of the flame can be secured, to obtain alamp of great capacity and wherein all waste is avoided, either ofevaporation or from volatilization or ebullition during use, and toproduce'a lamp wherein the alcohol may be burned to the best advantageto secure a regulable i'lame and perfect combustion. In order to effectvmy irst object, I construct an alcohol-lamp with afont from whichextends' a wick-tube, in which is placed a wick. Above the wick tube iscarried a burner-tube, the surface of which isV suitably perforated andwhich contains, preferably, asbestos kept saturated with the alcoholfrom the wick. The burner-tube may be perforated with circular or othershaped openings;

but it is preferably provided with a series ofparallel slots extendingobliquely and arranged in a horizontal series. Such a constructionincludes my invention in its/most generic aspect. Regulation of thedarne is secured by employing a regulating-tube, which cooperates withthe burner-tube and which normally discloses the openings therein toallow the combustion of the alcohol with which the wick o.n wick-likelmaterial within the burner-tube is saturated. Movement of the regulating-tube with respect to the burnertube is effected either by movingthe regulating-tube or the burner-tube, or both, so as to shut off to agreater or less extent the openings or perforations in the burner-tube,and thereby limit the size or capacity ofthe llame. Preferablyanadjustable regulating-tube is vdevice which may be used when averticallyadjust-able regulating-tube is employed, as is preferable.

By providing an alcohol-lamp with a font which supplies alcohol to awick or wick-like material within the burner-tube and by providing aregulating-tube so arranged as to effect or permit the closure anddisclosure of more or 'less of the openings or perforations in theburner-tube I secure an alcohol-lamp wherein the combustion will beperfect at all times, even when the area of the perforations or openingsin the burner-tube has been reduced to the minimum.

In order that the flame can be reduced below that which would be securedby contract-ing the area of the openings or perforations in 'theburner-tube within practicable limits,rI may also employ in connectionwith my improved lamp one or more vents located abovey the burner-tubeand through which the alcohol in gas form may issue and be consumedafter all the openings or perforations in the burner-tube have beenclosed. gas-vents may be conveniently formed yin a disk which is locatedimmediately above the burner-tube, as I shall describe. When theimproved lamp is provided with a regulatingtube which is movablevertically to shut off or disclose the perforations or openings in theburner-tube, the same `regulating-tube may be employed to cut off ordisclose the vent-openings, and lwith the preferred construction thedisk carrying the vent-openings is provided with a ilange, against whichthe These upper edge of the regulating-tubemay be c. La.:

ing into contact with said flange, so as to effectively extinguish theiame.

In connection with the second object of my invention I have discoveredthat with the asbestos alcohol lamps as heretofore constructed waste ofalcohol has been due principally to two causes. alcohol-lamps a verylarge alcohol-saturated surface is used, which allows rapid evapora tionwhen the lamp has been extinguished, so that the lamp requires to besupplied with alcohol generally each time it is used, and no way hasbeen suggested by which the waste due to this cause can be overcome. Thesecond source of waste of alcohol occurs in the burning of the lamp, andparticularly after it has been burning for some time and is hot, sincethe alcohol by its extreme volatility volatilizes and ebulliates off,generally condensing and depositing on the cooler parts of the lamp andoftentimes accumulating in such quantities as to make the lampdangerous, since such deposits are likely to be ignited from the flame.With my improved lamp I use a very small burning-surface, and with thepreferred construction the regulating-tube is capable of being movedupward into tight contact with the flange by which the llame isextinguished, so that there is little opportunity for evaporation,which, if it takes place at all, proceeds'very slowly. If desired, thelamp may be provided with a removable cap, which may be screwed in placewhen the lamp is out of use, so as to cover the burner and regulatingmechanism and absolutely prevent any possibility of evaporation.

In order to prevent loss due to the ebullition of the alcohol from thefont or its evaporation out through the burner-tube and the accumulationof the escapingalcohol around the burner-tube, I use in the preferredconstruction a false bottom or wastereceiver conveniently locatedbeneath the font and connected with the space immediately surroundingthe burner-tube or wick-tube by one or more ducts. Therefore any alcoholwhich may escape from the cause indicated around the burnertube will beimmediately conducted into the waste-receiver by the duct or ductsreferred to. From the wastereceiver the escaped alcohol is fed to theburner-tube by a supplementary wick,this return being effected asrapidly as the waste alcohol accumulates. By thus providing for thereception of any waste alcohol in a receiver, as explained, I not onlyobviate the waste indicated, but I also prevent the accumulation of thealcohol on the cooler parts of the lamp and its accidental ignition fromthe flame.

In most of the alcohol-lamps now on the market the combustion has beenimperfect owing to the limited air-supply furnished to the flame, and asa result the actual heat developed is far below that which shouldtheoretically be produced. Vith such lamps also In most of the priorlthe regulation of the flame has been generally effected by contractingthe opening through which the flame is permitted to pass. This isobjectionable, not only because practically the maximum amount ofalcohol is consumed at all times whether the flame is reduced or not,but also because the actual contraction of the flame bysuitabledampening devices results in the lamp becoming very hot, so as toincrease the waste due to volatilization and ebullition. Vtith myimproved lamp I utilize a cylindrical or tubular burner which offers amaximum surface for air-supply, and I effect the regulation, asexplained, preferably by actually contracting the surface of combustioninstead of by contracting the size of the dame produced from acombustion-surface of constant area, as is now the case. In this way Inot only effect very much better combustion, but produce the regulationalways under the most economical conditions.

Vhen my lamp is provided with a false bottom or waste-receiver, asexplained, I prefer to admit an additional air-supply within the latter,so that air may circulate up around the burner-tube and within theregulating tube to be directed into actual contact with the flame, thusincreasing the combustion.

In the accompanying drawings I s how an alcohol-lamp embodying mypresentimprovements, but which may be varied not only in itsVproportions but in its construction within the limits of the claims tobe hereinafter made.

In the drawings, Figure I represents a side elevation of the lamp,showing a cap in dotted lines; Fig. 2, a vertical section; Fig. 3, asection on the line 3 3; Fig. 4, a section on the line I 4; Fig. 5, asection on the line 5 5, and Fig. 6 a section on the line 6 6.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame numerals of reference.

The font 1 is of any desired form, and in the present instance it isformed within a body 2 between two diaphragms or partitions 3 and '-1,secured in place in any suitable Way within the body, as shown. .Thuswith this construction a chamber 5 will be formed at the bottom of thebody, which constitutes the waste-receiver of the preferredconstruction, and a chamber (5 will be formed at the upper end of thebody for receiving any desired regulating mechanism.

Extending upward from the partition I and communicating with the font lisa wick-tube 7, having a shoulder 8 near its top. Seated within theshoulder Sis a burner-tube l), provided with suitable openings orperforations therein, said openings preferably constituting a series ofinclined slots l0, arranged in a horizontal line near the upper part ofthe burner-tube. A wick l1 supplies the burnertube with alcohol from thefont, and said burner-tube is preferably filled with asbestosl2,suitably packed within the burner-tu be and which is supplied withalcohol from the wiclr IOO IIO

IIE

ries of vents 16, opening beneath the [lange i and through which alcoholfrom the burnertube may issue as a gas. i

'lhe font 1 may be'supplied with alcohol in any suitable way-a"s, forinstance, through an opening or tube leading into the font and having asuitable cap-for closing it. I illustratea tube 17 for this purpose,which extends down vertically through the burner and wick tubes into thefont andwhich may be secured 'at its lower end to the bottom of the fontand is .provided with one or more openings 18, through which the alcoholmay flow into the font. When a centrally-located filling-tube 17 isemployed, the disk 14 may be screwed thereon, as shown. A plug 19 isused for closing the upper end of the filling-tube when the lamp is inuse. Y

Mounted concentrically to the burner-tube is a regulating-tube 20,arranged in this instance to be moved vertically upward with respect tothe burner-tuber and at the end of its movement to be brought into tightengagement beneath the flange 15, so as to close from the air the entirearea of the openings 10 and to close also the vents 16. ,As this tubemoves upward it will be obviousthat the flame will be graduallycontracted until the openings -10 are entirely closed, after whichalcohol inv gas form will issue through the vents 16, providing a flameof minimum intensity. final movementA upward of the regulatingsleeve 20,engaging its upper end with the flange 15, extinguishes the llames whichare fed through the vents 16,"as will be obvious. The sleeve 2O may beoperated in any suitable way and by any suitable mechanism. In

-the present instance l1 illustrate this sleeve as being provided withamutilated thread 2l thereon at its bottom, which engages a thread cut inthe bore of a sleeve 22which is secured to the top of the font. u Byturning the regulat-ing sleeve 2O the engagement of these threads willelevate and depress it. This turning of the sleeve may be effected by.any suitable mechanism-as, for instance, by a ring 23, having oneor.more pins 24, which pass through holes in the sleeve 20, as shown,

which ring is prevented from vertical movement by one or more clips v25,which engage a slot 26 therein. The Aring 23 may, if desired, be turnedby a lever 27, working in a slot 2S, formed between the body 2 and asuitable cover 29 therefor. If a lever 27 is used for moving the ring23, it may carry a concealingring 30, which extends entirelyaround thebody of the lamp and which vmoves with the lever, as will be understood.The central The opening in the cover 29 is preferably large enough, asshown, to enable the ring 23 and the regulating-sleeve 20 to be takenoutwhen repairs are necessary, and said opening is preferably concealed,so as to make a close t with thesleeve 2O bya ring 31, secured in placein any suitable way. The cover 29 may carry a screw-threaded flange 32,withvwhich a cap 33 may engage if it is desired to exclude air entirelyfrom the burner to prevent any possibility of evaporation. e

In use there is always danger, especially when the lamp is hot,of thealcohol volatilizing out through the burner or ebulliating out of thefont and condensing and accumulating on the cooler portions of the lamp,thus not only resulting in waste, but `iu danger also, since suchaccumulationsare likely to become .ignited from the llame. e With a lampconstructed as shown any alcohol which would thus escape from the fontwould be likely to accumulate in the chamber between the wickf tube 7and the sleeve 22. I therefore connect Vthis space with the false bottomor waste-re- 'the waste-receiver and pass upward through the duct orducts 34 into the space around the wick-tube 7, so that an additionalairsupply will be directed intoimmediateproximity to the-flame. t

The operation of the improved lamp, assu ming the specific embodiment ofmy-invention illustrated to be used, isas follows; The cap 33 is removedand alcohol, either of `the grain or wood variety, is lpoured into thefont 1 through the lilling-tube 17. The plug 19 is screwed in place. Thelever 27 is turned to partially rotate the ring 23, causing the threads21 to depress the` regulating-tube 20 and disclose the entire areaoftheslots 10 in the burner-tube. Alcohol is fed from the font to thesaturated4 material within the.

burner-tube by the kwick 11. A match is applied to the saturatedmaterial within the slots 10 and a very hotlame will be secured by thecombustion ot' the alcohol, said flame being of tubular form and.extending up and around the disk 14. Of course apart of the alcoholWithin the burner-tube willbe converted into gas, which will pass outthrough the vents 16 and will be consumed, thus 1supplementing theflame. Any alcohol which mayiind its way by volatilization'orebullitionwithin the space around the wick-tube will immediately flow through theducts 34 into the Waste-receiver 5, from which it will be returned-bythewick 35 back to the burnertube, thus .elfectively preventing -any wasteIIO from this cause. When the openings 37 are used in theWaste-receiver, an additional airsupply will pass through thewaste-receiver up through the duct or ducts 34 around the wick-tube andwill impinge directly against the ame, so as to increase the combustionthereof. When it is desired to regulate the lamp or to entirely cut odthe dame, the lever 27 is moved to partially rotate the ring 23, causingthe sleeve 2O tobe partially rotated, and the threads 21 will elevatethe regulating-tube with respect to the wick-tube, gradually cutting offthe areaof the openings l0, and thereby gradually diminishing the flame.This movement of the regulating-tube may continue until the openings 10have been entirely closed, and no further combustion of alcohol throughsaid openings can therefore take place. At this time alcohol will bevolatilized within the burner and will escape as gas through the vents16 and be consumed by the flame, which will thus be ofits minimumintensity. The further movement upward of the regulating-tube 2O cutsoff the vents 16, and when the upper end of the regulating-tube engagesbeneath the flange 15 the lamp Will be entirely extinguished. The cap33, if used, may be then replaced and it willv be found that even aftera lapse of several days no appreciable evaporation has taken place, sothat the lamp will be immediately ready for use without the necessity ofrefilling.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is as follows:

l. Au improved alcohotburner, comprising in combination a font, anexteriorlyperforated, tubular burner carried by the font and containinga Wick-like material supplied with alcohol from the font, aregulating-tube arranged concentrically to the burner, means for movingthe regulating-tube and burner with respect to each other to cover ordisclose the perforations in the burner, a cap carried by the burner,and a series of gas-vents inA said cap communicating with the interiorof the burner, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved alcohol-lamp, comprising in combination a font, aneXteriorly-perforated, tubular burner carried by the font and containinga wick-like material supplied with alcohol from the font, aregulating-tube arranged concentrically to the burner, means for movingthe regulating-tube and burner with respect to each other to cover ordisclose the perforations in the burner, a cap carried by the burner,and a series of gas-vents in said cap communicating with the interior ofthe burner, the relative movement of the regulating-tube and burner withrespect to each other being sufficient to cover or disclose saidygas-vents, substantially as set forth.

3. Au improved alcohol-lamp, comprising in combination a font, aninteriorly-perforated, tubular burner carried by the font and containinga Wick-like material supplied `centrically to the burner and movabletoward and away from said disk, and a series of gasvents in said disk,with respect to which the regulating-tube is also movable, substantiallyasset forth.

An improved alcohol-lamp, comprising iu combination a font, a perforatedtubular `burner carried by the font and containing a wick-like materialsupplied with alcohol from the font, a stationary disk carried by theburner, a regulating-tube mounted concentrically to the burner andmovable toward and away from said disk, and a series of gasvents in saiddisk, with respect to which the regulating-tube is also movable, saiddisk being provided with a flange `which is engaged by theregulating-tube in its uppermost position, substantially as setforth.

6. An improved alcohol-lamp, comprising in combination a font, awick-tube carried by the font, a wick within said tube, a perforatedburner-tube carried by the Wick-tube, a Wick-like material Within theburner-tube `supplied with alcohol from the wick, a perforated diaphragmWithin the burner-tube, a stationary disk carried by the burner-tube, aseries of vents in said disk, and a regulatingtube movable with respectto the burner-tube, substantially as set forth.

7. An improved alcohol-lamp, comprising in combination a font, awick-tube, a wick in said tube, a burner-tube carried by the wick-tube,a wick-like material in the burnertube supplied with alcohol from thewick, a regulating-tube movable concentrically with respect to theburner-tube, and a filling-tube located centrally in the wick and burnertubes andconnected at its lower end to the font, substantially as setforth.

8. An improved alcohol-lamp, comprising in combination a font, awick-tube, a Wick in said tube, a burner-tube carried by the wick-tube,a wick-like material in the burnertube supplied with alcohol from thewick, a regulating-tube movable concentrically with respect to theburner-tube, a filling-tube located centrally in the wick and burnertubes and connected at its lower end to the font, and a disk above theburner-tube carried by the filling-tube, substantially as set forth.

9. In an alcohol-lamp, the combination of a font, a cylindrical burnersupplied with alcohol from said font, a regulating-tube mov- IIO ablewith respect to said burner, a thread carried by said regulatin g-tube,athreaded sleeve carried by the font, with which the thread on theregulating-tube engages, and'means for turning the regulatingLtube so asto provide for its movement with respect to the burner, said meanscomprising a rotatable ring and connections between said ring and theregulating-tube to permit the regulatingtube to move vertically withrespect Vto the ring, substantially as set forth.

l0. In an alcohol-lamp, the combination of a font, a cylindrical burnersupplied With alcohol from said font, a regulating tube movable Withrespect to said burner, a thread carried by said regulating-tube, athreaded JOHN P. STEPPE.

Witnesses:

Tlos. F. BERRY, WILLIAM JxIHLo.

